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Recent progress and future directions of the research on nanoplastic-induced neurotoxicity
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This review summarizes current research on how nanoplastics cause damage to the nervous system, covering studies in cell cultures, zebrafish, mice, and other models. Nanoplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier, trigger oxidative stress and inflammation in brain tissue, and disrupt nerve cell function. The authors highlight that understanding these mechanisms is crucial for assessing the long-term neurological risks of human exposure to nanoplastics through food, water, and air.
Many types of plastic products, including polystyrene, have long been used in commercial and industrial applications. Microplastics and nanoplastics, plastic particles derived from these plastic products, are emerging as environmental pollutants that can pose health risks to a wide variety of living organisms, including humans. However, it is not well understood how microplastics and nanoplastics affect cellular functions and induce stress responses. Humans can be exposed to polystyrene-microplastics and polystyrene-nanoplastics through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact. Most ingested plastics are excreted from the body, but inhaled plastics may accumulate in the lungs and can even reach the brain via the nose-to-brain route. Small-sized polystyrene-nanoplastics can enter cells by endocytosis, accumulate in the cytoplasm, and cause various cellular stresses, such as inflammation with increased pro-inflammatory cytokine production, oxidative stress with generation of reactive oxygen species, and mitochondrial dysfunction. They induce autophagy activation and autophagosome formation, but autophagic flux may be impaired due to lysosomal dysfunction. Unless permanently exposed to polystyrene-nanoplastics, they can be removed from cells by exocytosis and subsequently restore cellular function. However, neurons are very susceptible to this type of stress, thus even acute exposure can lead to neurodegeneration without recovery. This review focuses specifically on recent advances in research on polystyrene-nanoplastic-induced cytotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Furthermore, in this review, based on mechanistic studies of polystyrene-nanoplastics at the cellular level other than neurons, future directions for overcoming the negative effects of polystyrene-nanoplastics on neurons were suggested.
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Neurotoxicity of nanoplastics: A review
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This review examines the growing body of evidence on how nanoplastics may affect the nervous system. Researchers summarized findings showing that nanoplastics can cross biological barriers, accumulate in brain tissue, and trigger oxidative stress and inflammation in nerve cells. The evidence indicates that nanoplastic exposure may contribute to neurotoxic effects, though more research is needed to fully understand the risks to human brain health.
Neurotoxicities induced by micro/nanoplastics: A review focusing on the risks of neurological diseases
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This review summarizes evidence that micro- and nanoplastics can reach the brain through the bloodstream and nerve pathways, where they trigger oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell damage that may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases. The particles are found in air, water, soil, and food, meaning humans are constantly exposed through breathing, eating, and skin contact, making brain effects a serious long-term concern.
Micro-nanoplastics in the central nervous system: Evidence, mechanisms and perspectives
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This review examines evidence that micro- and nanoplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier and cause neurotoxicity through oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and disruption of neurotransmitter signaling. While clinical studies have confirmed the presence of plastic particles in human brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid, the authors note that methodological limitations and inconsistent quality controls currently prevent establishing a definitive causal link to neurological conditions.
Neurotoxicity of Plastics: Mechanistic Insights into the Progression of Neurodegenerative Diseases in Animal Models
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This review summarizes evidence from rodent and zebrafish studies showing that plastic-derived chemicals — including BPA, phthalates, and micro/nanoplastics — penetrate or impair the blood-brain barrier and trigger oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration.
Microplastics/nanoplastics and neurological health: An overview of neurological defects and mechanisms
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This review summarizes evidence that micro and nanoplastics can harm the nervous system, causing developmental abnormalities, brain cell death, neurological inflammation, and potentially contributing to neurodegenerative diseases. Animal studies show that these tiny plastics can cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in brain tissue, where they trigger oxidative stress and disrupt normal brain function. While direct evidence in humans is still limited, the findings suggest that chronic microplastic exposure could be a risk factor for neurological health problems.
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